Moon Phase Diary 2023: Full Moon, New Moon and Quarter Moon Dates Included

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Because the moon's orbit around the Earth is tilted, it does not line up with Earth's shadow every month and we do not have a lunar eclipse each month. The Greeks were among the first to take a scientific look at the Moon and her phases. Around 500 BC Greek philosopher and astronomer Pythagoras carefully observed the narrow boundary line—the terminator—between the dark and light hemispheres of the Moon. Based on how the terminator curved across the surface of the Moon, he correctly surmised the Moon must be a sphere.

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The remaining four Moon phases occur at halfway points between the main phases. Unlike the main phases, these minor phases don’t happen at a specific time or luminosity, rather they describe the Moon’s phase for the entire time period between each main phase. These interim phases are Waxing Crescent Moon, Waxing Gibbous Moon, Waning Gibbous Moon and Waning Crescent Moon. The illustration below shows all eight main and minor Moon phases and where they occur in the lunar cycle. Caird Library Visit the world's largest maritime library and archive collection at the National Maritime Museum

Understanding Moon Phases

And sometimes — once in a blue moon— the moon is full twice in a month (or four times in a season, depending on which definition you prefer).

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The second definition of a blue moon relates to having an extra full moon during a season. When a season has four full moons, the third full moon of the season is also called a blue moon or a seasonal blue moon to help distinguish between the other definition.The 2023 Full Moon Calendar includes the date of the next full moon in 2023. On the schedule this year is a blue moon, full moon eclipses, and four supermoons.